Contact Us

Media Inquiries & Requests: (215) 662-2560

Penn Medicine’s Department of Communications is committed to serving all of the communications needs of Penn Medicine — including the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC), Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH) and other entities— as well as the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM).

We are dedicated to quickly responding to the information needs of the news media, and encourage our faculty and staff, or members of the press to call our office with questions about the Health System or School of Medicine or requests for interviews with experts. Visit our staff beat list to find information on contacts for specific subjects.

Holly Auer

Associate Vice President for Communications

Holly leads the Penn Medicine Communications Department’s 15-member team of media relations, internal publications, and digital communications professionals. Prior to assuming her leadership role in the department in 2013, Holly handled media relations for Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center beginning in 2008, including communications for Penn Medicine’s research using personalized cellular therapy to treat blood cancers -- from publication of trial results in the first three patients in 2010 through approval as the nation’s first CAR T cell therapy by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in 2017. Holly came to Penn Medicine in 2007 following six years as a newspaper health care reporter. She previously worked for The Buffalo News, The Post & Courier in Charleston, S.C. and the Scripps Howard News Service in Washington, D.C., and freelanced for magazines including Glamour, Self, and Prevention. She is the recipient of numerous national and statewide awards for her writing and editing as both a journalist and a public relations professional. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she majored in magazine journalism, and she earned a master’s degree in bioethics at Penn in 2009.

Abbey Hunton

News Director

As the Associate Director of News, Abbey Anderson Hunton oversees the day-to-day operations of Penn Medicine’s media team, which includes seven press officers and the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications. She also provides strategic oversight of departmental initiatives such as medical meeting press plans, publicity for major gifts and new centers and facilities, as well as leads traditional and social media strategies to amplify news about key institutional initiatives. Abbey also spearheads the department’s performance reporting efforts for faculty and leadership across the Health System. Abbey joined Penn Medicine as a press officer in 2015 after five years of working in PR agencies doing media relations and branding work for health care, higher education, technology, and athletics clients. Abbey holds a BA in corporate communications from Elizabethtown College.

Rachel Ewing

Editorial Director

As Editorial Director, Rachel Ewing provides editorial oversight and strategic planning for all Penn Medicine publications, including Penn Medicine magazine and the system-wide suite of internal publications, and for digital content and social media campaigns. Her role entails overseeing all aspects of Penn Medicine magazine, the organization’s flagship publication for all major external constituencies, including alumni of the Perelman School of Medicine, leadership at top academic colleges and health systems, health care thought leaders, members of the media, elected officials and their staff, current and prospective donors, and a variety of other groups. She conceptualizes and manages all aspects of the editorial and production process for the magazine, including management of graphic designers, photographers, freelance writers, and other contributors.

Rachel has been editor of the magazine since 2016, when she re-joined the Penn Medicine Department of Communications following experience with science and medical writing and public relations at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and at Drexel University. Her prior work at Penn Medicine focused on digital communications, social media, and special projects. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Brandeis University and master’s degrees in science communication and publication management from Drexel University.

Alex Gardner

Senior Medical Communications Officer

Alex joined Penn Medicine in 2019 after more than five years as a journalist, many of which were spent on staff at Men’s Health magazine. He has reported on a wide variety of health and science topics including cardiovascular disease, urological health, and Infectious Diseases, often working with clinicians and researchers all over the world to accurately report the latest research news. His writing and editorial contributions have appeared in print, online, and on the airwaves. Alex has a passion for communication and a bachelor’s degree in English from Muhlenberg College.

Topics

Dermatology

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Nursing

Urology

Family Medicine and Community Health

Global Health

Infectious Diseases

Gastrointestinal Medicine

Colon & Rectal Surgery

John Infanti

Senior Medical Communications Officer

John joined Penn Medicine in 2016 after almost a decade in TV news. His work as a producer took him from Scranton to Pittsburgh, where he won an Emmy and an Edward R. Murrow Award, and finally to Philadelphia. During his time in the newsroom, John covered presidential elections, Papal visits, G20 Conventions, Stanley Cups, Super Bowls, and a variety of breaking news topics. John holds a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government.

Topics

Hematology-Oncology

Radiation Oncology

Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery

Otorhinolaryngology

Plastic Surgery

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Government and Community Affairs

Pennsylvania Hospital

Women's Cancers

Basser Center for BRCA

Lauren Ingeno

Senior Medical Communications Officer

Lauren joined Penn Medicine as a press officer in 2019. She worked previously as a News Manager at Drexel University, where she generated national media attention about advancements in health care, engineering and biomedical research. Before returning to her hometown of Philadelphia, she was a science writer for publications at the George Washington University, where she covered a variety of topics, including infectious diseases, neuroscience and public health. She has also completed internships at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Inside Higher Ed and USA Today. Lauren is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, where she earned degrees in journalism and English.

Mike Iorfino

Senior Medical Communications Officer

Mike joined Penn Medicine in 2018 with more than seven years of journalism and communications experience. In previous positions, he worked with a variety of pharmaceutical and healthcare clients to develop strategic communications and promote thought leadership on critical industry issues. Mike began his career as a healthcare and business reporter at the Scranton Times-Tribune, where he covered everything from the rollout of the Affordable Care Act to the implementation of electronic health record systems. He is a graduate of the University of Scranton, where he received a BA in Communications.

Topics

Cardiovascular Medicine

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Emergency Medicine & Trauma

Vascular Surgery

Transplant Surgery

Anesthesiology

Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care

Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Bariatric Surgery

Center for Weight and Eating Disorders

Chris Mallard

Digital Strategist and Social Media Manager

Chris joined Penn Medicine in 2018 with six years of digital communication experience, three of which were in the health care industry. As Digital Communications Manager overseeing the department of Communications' digital presence, he can often be found updating the Penn Medicine News homepage, managing social media channels, and providing metrics on a multitude of digital projects. His role also includes the production of specialized graphics, the digital version of Penn Medicine magazine, as well as all of the department’s suite of internal publications. Chris is a graduate of the University of Illinois with an MS in health care communication.

Hannah Messinger

Senior Medical Communications Officer

Hannah joins Penn Medicine with more than seven years of communications and marketing experience. Hannah brings strong media relations, executive positioning, internal communications, and social media expertise to the organization. In previous positions, she worked with a wide variety of clients to develop strategic communications and thought leadership programs in the higher education, technology, life sciences, and food and beverage sectors. Hannah is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and College of Arts and Sciences where she earned a dual degree in public relations and psychology.

Topics

Medical Education

Graduate Medical Education

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Psychiatry

Melissa Moody

Senior Science Communications Officer

As Senior Science Communications Officer, Melissa works with foundational science faculty and researchers to share the groundbreaking work happening at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and the Perelman School of Medicine. She came to Penn from her post as Head of Strategic Communications and Marketing for the University of Virginia School of Data Science, where she led PR and media relations, marketing, social media, and editorial and multimedia production. Her work breaking down complex topics into lay-friendly articles, social media postings, graphics, and multimedia productions advances new ways to tell Penn Medicine’s stories. In her previous positions, Melissa worked with higher ed and non-profit organizations on communications and editorial strategy. She began her career as an award-winning journalist, with a background in writing, video production, design, and photography. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville, where she earned a BS in Communication, with specialized study and field work in Biological Anthropology.

Topics

Biochemistry & Biophysics

Cancer Biology

Cell & Developmental Biology

Environmental Toxicology

Genetics

Medical Ethics & Health Policy

Microbiology

Neuroscience

Path & Lab

Pharmacology

Physiology

Frank Otto

Senior Medical Communications Officer

Frank joined Penn Medicine in 2018 with almost four years’ experience in health care and university communications, with specific experience generating media attention in areas including public health, therapy, biology and physics. Frank began his career as a print journalist with the Pottstown Mercury and Delaware County Daily Times, where he covered everything from spot news to public meetings and high school sports. Frank is a graduate of the School of Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Topics

Emergency Medicine & Trauma

Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

Rheumatology

Health Care Technology Innovation

Telemedicine

Health care IT

Intellectual Property, Industry Partnerships & Commercialization

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Ylonda Russell

Office Manager

Ylonda has been providing administrative support for the Department of Communications since October 2000. She coordinates the day-to-day operations of the department, handles budget development, invoice processing, front office reception and outgoing/incoming mail. She also assists in web research; maintenance of appropriate inventory; composes, reviews and edits documents; organizes and maintains files and databases; and general clerical support.

Ylonda has been with the Health System for more than 10 years and was previously with the Department of Dermatology.

Sally Sapega

Director, Internal Publications

Sally Sapega serves as editor of both HUPdate, the monthly employee publication of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and System News, the internal publication for UPHS. In this role, she is responsible for seeking out story ideas, writing articles, taking photographs for stories, and coordinating both the design and the distribution for both publications. As director of Internal Publications, she also oversees the production of employee publications for both Pennsylvania Hospital and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Prior to joining Communications, Sally worked in Penn Medicine’s Department of Marketing and Strategic Support, where she was responsible for producing a variety of marketing tools to promote hospital services to consumer audiences. In addition, she planned special events, such as seminars and health fairs.

Sally holds a BA in Communications from Simmons College and graduated from Rowan University with a master’s in Public Relations.

MaryKate Wust

Communications Specialist

MaryKate Wust joined Penn Medicine in 2017. Her experience in print and digital communications has largely been characterized by her wearing many hats — often all at once. She currently serves as the editor of the Presby Bulletin and What’s New, the monthly internal publications for Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Pennsylvania Hospital, respectively. She also contributes to the health system-wide publication System Newsand oversees the daily news clip round-up, Penn Medicine in the News. As the department’s “all-purpose infielder,” she also has a hand in social media, graphic design, and web management. MaryKate received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Susquehanna University in 2015.